‘An intrusion’: data centre fights test Southeast Asia’s AI ambitions
Residents of Section 9 in Kota Damansara thought they knew what was coming to the vacant land opposite their homes. The site, beside a community forest in the Malaysian township, was expected to become a high street retail development. Instead, they learned that Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had received an application for two three-storey data centre blocks – part of the vast physical…
Section 9 in Kota Damansara, Malaysia, once planned for retail development, became the site of a contentious data centre proposal. The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) received over 290 objections, leading the developer's consultant to withdraw their application. The controversy highlights tensions between national governments seeking AI infrastructure investment and local authorities and residents wary of the environmental and social impacts.
In Oton, central Philippine province of Iloilo, a 50-megawatt AI data centre faced similar objections, with the project proponent withdrawing their proposal. Both incidents underscore the challenge of balancing economic development goals with the concerns of nearby communities regarding noise, water use, traffic, and land suitability.
Malaysia's data centre guidelines allow larger facilities in commercial zones, but lack specific technical submission requirements. The city council's response to the Kota Damansara proposal involved correcting procedural issues and opening a new objection period. Thailand has recently taken steps to establish a data centre policy committee to address similar concerns through standardized policies and standards.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
